Five fun activities to do with dad this Father’s Day

It’s easy to fall back on trusty old aftershave and socks when it comes to Father’s Day, but as our recent feature A moment with dad proved, what dads really crave for most on Father’s Day is a homemade card and some quality time spent with their children. 

While meals at restaurants and trips to the cinema are still off the agenda, it’s totally possible to partake in a few closer-to-home activities. Here are five fun activities dads and kids can enjoy together this year. 

If you can’t persuade kids to get involved in gardening, how about getting them to help build a bird box? The promise of hatchlings is surely enough to get everyone excited. ‘Birds offer such brilliant free entertainment, a connection with nature right outside our back doors to give us a wonderful distraction from our worries each day,’ says Adrian Thomas, wildlife and gardening expert at the RSPB.

‘Garden birds started nesting in March or April but many species do need to raise several broods in a season if populations are to be maintained. So, although your chances of takers are now getting more limited as the summer progresses, I always say the time to get a birdbox up is now, whenever that is. Once it's in place and birds can get used to it being there; even if they don't use it this year, they can move in at the earliest opportunity next year. Indeed, they may even start to use it for overnight roosting over the winter as a cold weather bolthole.’

How to build a nestbox

If the kids are really young, you could go for this fun and easy-to-build bird house but if you want to build one from scratch, this step-by-step guide from the RSPB is a good one to follow. Their downloadable plan gives measurements for a small and a large box. Use only the first or the second figure throughout. For starlings and great spotted woodpeckers, use the dimensions for the large box; all the others need the small one.

Remember that natural nest holes don’t come in standard sizes, so use these dimensions only as a guide. Any plank or sheet of about 15 mm thick weatherproof timber is suitable. However, do not use CCA pressure-treated timber, since the chemicals may harm birds. 

The bottom of the entrance hole must be at least 125 mm from the floor of the nestbox. If it’s less, young birds might fall out or be scooped out by a cat. The inside wall below the entrance hole should be rough to help the young birds to clamber up when it's time for them to leave.

Putting it together

Drill drainage holes to the base of the box, and use galvanised nails or screws to assemble. It’s always best to leave the box untreated. As it weathers, it will blend into its surroundings. 

Softwood boxes can be treated with selected water-based preservatives, which are known to be safe for animals, such as Sadolin. Apply it only to the outside of the box, and not around the entrance hole. Make sure the box dries and airs thoroughly before you put it up. 

A woodpecker box should be filled with a block of balsa wood, rotting log or wood chips – woodpeckers like to excavate their own nesting cavities. Please note that if the box is going to be placed in a location where it will be exposed to heavy rain, it would be useful to cover the top of the lid with recycled leather or rubber. This will provide further waterproofing and extend the life of the box.

How big does the hole need to be?

The entrance hole size depends on the species you hope to attract: 
25 mm for blue, coal and marsh tits; 28 mm for great tits, tree sparrows and pied flycatchers; 32 mm for house sparrows and nuthatches; 45 mm for starlings. The small box with 100 mm high open front may attract robins or pied wagtails. A wren would need a 140 mm high front panel, while spotted flycatchers prefer a low 60 mm front to the box.

Once your bird box is made, ensure you put it in the right place. ‘The key thing is that it should face between north and east, so that it is out of the sun and prevailing wind,' says Adrian. ‘And finally, remember that a nestbox is the equivalent of a nursery – birds still need a working kitchen and bathroom to service it all! In other words, a birdbox is great, but is just one part of a bird's overall “home”, so try to provide for their other needs too, such as a birdbath or pond, well-stocked bird feeders, and a plant-rich garden that will provide the seeds, berries and insects they will need.’

Bored of baking cupcakes? Time to whip up something truly scrumptious that will win dad over on Father’s Day like this mouth-watering chicken shawarma. There's a cauliflower vegan alternative, too.

Chicken shawarma with easy flatbreads

Preparation time: 20 minutes + chilling

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Total time: 45 minutes + chilling

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 lemon, zest and juice, plus wedges, to serve

150ml Greek style yogurt, plus 2 tbsp

2 tsp shawarma spice blend 

Chicken thigh fillets, 200g

Self-raising white flour, plus extra for rolling

½ red cabbage (about 400g), very thinly sliced

1 small red onion, very thinly sliced

5 radishes, very thinly sliced

1 tsp nigella seeds, or black sesame seeds

1 tbsp olive oil

½ x 25g pack fresh mint

Method

1. Put the lemon zest and half the juice in a large bowl. Stir in 2 tbsp yogurt and the spice blend. Using tongs or a fork, add the chicken to the yogurt mixture, turning until evenly coated. If time allows, cover and chill for up to 2 hours.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the remaining 150ml yogurt, the flour and a pinch of salt. Using your hands, bring the mixture together to make a soft dough. Lightly flour the work surface and knead the dough for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Return to the bowl and cover.

3. Stir together the cabbage, red onion, radishes and the remaining lemon juice.

4. Preheat the grill to medium. Transfer the chicken to a foil-lined grill pan and cook for 10 minutes on each side until nicely browned, thoroughly cooked, the juices run clear and no pink meat remains.

5. Meanwhile, divide the dough into 4 balls and roll each out to a rough 20-23cm round. Sprinkle over a few nigella seeds and roll them into the dough. Heat a nonstick frying pan and cook the bread for 2 minutes on each side until puffed and lightly browned. Drizzle each with a little olive oil and put on serving plates.

6. Slice the chicken, pile on top of the bread with the cabbage slaw then scatter with mint leaves. Serve with a lemon wedge on the side.

We live in an age where the local rec has taken on a new relevance – a place to escape and stretch your legs and, most importantly, somewhere for the kids to let off steam. With playgrounds still shut, now is the time to learn a new ballgame. If you are able to meet with friends or family on Father’s Day, consider a game of rounders. According to Rounders England, you need:

1. Two teams with a minimum of 6 and maximum of 15 players on each side.

2. One team bats while the other team fields and bowls.

3. The bowler bowls the ball to the batter who hits the ball forward on the rounders pitch. The batter then runs to as many posts as possible before the fielders return the ball to touch the post the batter is heading for.

4. If the batter reaches the 2nd or 3rd post in one hit, the batting team scores ½ a Rounder. If the batter reaches 4th post in one hit, the batting team scores a Rounder.

5. Games are usually played over two innings with the aim of the game to score the most Rounders.

See full rules here. Alternatively, French cricket is ultra easy and only requires 3-4 players. This game requires one batter and any number of fielders with no stumps or pitch required.

Alternatively, if the weather’s not great or you fancy something less energetic, there’s always a good old-fashioned board game. ‘This Father’s Day will be even more special for families to appreciate and spend quality time together,’ says Molly Baker, Partner & Junior Toy Buyer.‘ A Lego build is a great project to do together, with an appeal that spans generations and sparks nostalgia, plus we also now stock adult-friendly Lego cars and complex buildings like Old Trafford stadium. 

Dad an art lover? You might not be able to visit his favourite art gallery with him this Father's Day but that doesn’t mean you can't indulge in a little artistic enlightenment. Go on a virtual art tour from the comfort of your home instead. ‘The Nudge offers virtual tours of virtually everything so you can pretend you’re in the Uffizi in Florence looking at Botticelli’s Printemps or in New York's Guggenheim looking at a Picasso,’ says Isabel Lamb, art historian and founder of The Little Grand Tour, who specialise gallery trips for children. ‘My favourite is the Vatican Museums and the Quirinale have a fantastic Raphael exhibition on in Rome to celebrate his anniversary.’

The Little Grand Tour have been doing mini ten minute ‘Art Spells’ on IGTV where they pick an artist a week. The Royal Academy are also hosting a virtual exhibition of ‘Picasso and Paper’ as well as a fun tutorial for families on how to collage a portrait. Tate Kids also has a range of fun, creative activities to do together including the wonderfully easy-to-use Tate Paint, where you can create a virtual masterpiece together and then upload your artwork to the Tate Kids online gallery. Have fun!

If you are staying at home with dad this Father's Day, how about a fun day out in your very own garden, weather permitting. Once you’ve made him breakfast in bed, create a playground in the garden with croquet, boules or a spot of bat and ball. Better still, make an obstacle course that involves the trampoline and a mini-work out. Dad's got to keep his fitness levels up, after all. See more ideas on the best outdoor toys. 

If it's a sunny day, you can sit down on a rug and play a board game before it's time for a picnic. Rope dad into getting the barbecue going and keep things simple. Tip: make salads and sandwiches in advance so you can enjoy the day with him.